How much do real estate agents make? This guide shows official BLS and NAR figures, percentiles, income by experience, transactions, how commissions work and what the 2024 NAR settlement changed.
Quick answer: the BLS reports a median pay of $57,400 for real estate brokers and sales agents in May 2025 (brokers $73,220, sales agents $52,830), and NAR reports a median gross income of $59,200 for members in 2025. Incomes are mostly commission and vary widely; NAR members with 16 or more years of experience reported $88,500, while those with two years or less reported $8,000.
Key Takeaways
- BLS median $57,400 (May 2025); NAR median gross income $59,200 (2025).
- Experience matters: $8,000 for newer agents vs $88,500 for veterans (NAR).
- Income is commission-based and irregular.
- NAR gross income is before $9,530 median expenses.
- Commissions are negotiable; practice changes took effect 17 Aug 2024.
How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make?
Two official sources answer how much real estate agents make differently. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a combined median pay of $57,400 a year for real estate brokers and sales agents in May 2025. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reports a median gross income of $59,200 for its members in 2025. Both are medians, so half of agents earn less, and incomes are irregular.
Figure 1. Official income figures.
How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make? Official Income Figures
| Source | Figure | Year |
|---|---|---|
| BLS: brokers and sales agents combined | Median $57,400 a year ($27.59 an hour) | May 2025 |
| BLS: brokers | Median $73,220; lowest 10% under $37,110; highest 10% over $143,300 | May 2025 |
| BLS: sales agents | Median $52,830; lowest 10% under $32,970; highest 10% over $123,590 | May 2025 |
| NAR: median gross income of members | $59,200 (up from $58,100 in 2024) | 2025 |
| NAR: 16 or more years of experience | $88,500 | 2025 |
| NAR: two years or less of experience | $8,000 (per the NAR feature sheet) | 2025 |
NAR’s figure is gross income, before business expenses. NAR reports median business expenses of $9,530. BLS says income is mostly commission, varies by property type and value and is often split among buyer’s agent, seller’s agent, brokers and firms.
How Much Work Does It Take?
- NAR reports a median of 9 transactions (sides) for the typical member, and a median of 32 for team-based specialists (the feature sheet shows 31).
- Median sales volume was $2.7 million for individual specialists and $17.5 million for team specialists.
- Median experience was 13 years, and 21% of members work on a team.
- 86% of NAR members are independent contractors.
How Real Estate Commissions Work
Commissions are negotiable, and NAR says its policy does not set the amount. NAR’s settlement practice changes took effect on 17 August 2024: offers of compensation can no longer be made on the MLS (they can still be negotiated off-MLS), and MLS participants working with buyers must have a written agreement before touring a home. Agents typically split commissions with a brokerage. Check your state and brokerage terms.
Job Outlook
BLS counts 530,600 jobs in 2025 and projects 2% growth from 2025 to 2035, slower than average, with about 40,400 openings a year. Every state requires a license, and the entry requirement is a high school diploma plus licensing.
How Much Do Real Estate Agents Make Over Time? Ways to Increase Income
- Build referral and repeat-client systems; see real estate lead generation ideas.
- Use a CRM and follow up fast; see real estate lead generation software.
- Focus on a niche or neighborhood.
- Track cost per closed deal and expenses.
- Consider a team model once volume grows.
Social media and DMs can help; see real estate Instagram DM.
A 30-Day Plan
- Week 1: define your ideal customer and your offer in one sentence.
- Week 2: build a small, clean list from sources you can defend, and write two versions of your message.
- Week 3: send a small batch, read every reply and fix what confuses people.
- Week 4: measure replies and meetings, drop what fails and scale what works slowly.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Real estate brokers and sales agents
- NAR: 2026 Member Profile
- NAR: 2026 Member Profile feature sheet
- NAR: Settlement FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do real estate agents make per year?
BLS reports a combined median of $57,400 (May 2025), and NAR reports a median gross income of $59,200 for members in 2025.
How much do beginners make?
NAR’s feature sheet reports a median gross income of $8,000 for members with two years or less of experience.
How much do top agents make?
BLS reports the highest 10% of brokers earned over $143,300 and of sales agents over $123,590 in May 2025.
Is real estate income steady?
No. BLS says it is mostly commission and irregular, especially for beginners.
Did the NAR settlement change commissions?
Practice changes took effect 17 August 2024: no offers of compensation on the MLS, and written buyer agreements before touring.
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